Age and Treachery will...

triumph over youth and skill. (small print on card by Crystal Cawley printed at David Wolf's shop (all woodblock save the vertical "40" copper...note the very cool Dwiggin's designed "I")).

My wife and family threw a surprise (more or less) birthday party for me this afternoon. Dad smoked a salmon (exceptional, as always) and mom and Suzanne prepared a wonderful collection of good eats (crab dip, ham, pink dunk, etc.) and there were many good bottles of wine and the like.

Best of all, a great group of people came together from all over the place for the event. It was really great fun...and was kept, more or less, a secret. [I had a pretty strong suspicion that *something* was in the works...but the scope was a complete surprise.]

I turn 40 in a few days (May, 3....shared with Niccolo Machiavelli (and, by pure coincidence, the "1469" of our phone number is the year NM was born). Surrounded by good books and good friends. Life is really not too bad. Thanks to all who came, to all who sent cards and the like.